Tony Muskett, Opportunistic Defense Lifts Monmouth Over Bucs

WEST LONG BRANCH – Tony Muskett’s college debut was a smashing success.

The true freshman quarterback showed poise way beyond his years and unveiled a dead-on accurate arm in leading the Hawks to 35-17 win over Big South foe Charleston Southern Saturday at Kessler Field.

“We felt all along that Tony was very poised and very far along for a true freshman,” said head coach Kevin Callahan. “Today he went out and protected the ball very well and what really impressed me besides the way he was throwing the ball was the way he managed the game. The way he got us into the proper plays and changed the plays was really impressive.”

Saturday was the 2019 Big South defending champions first game in almost 16 months but it didn’t take long for them to shake off the rust or for Muskett to get his collegiate career untracked.

Facing a third-and-5 on Monmouth’s first offensive series of the game deep in their own territory, Muskett calmly hit junior wideout Assanti Kearney for 15 yards and a first down.

Three plays later on third-and-8 from his own 30-yard line he threw a laser to junior Terrance Greene Jr., who broke a tackle at the Bucs 40-yard line before taking it all the way for a touchdown and a quick 7-0 lead.

“When I got out there for the first couple of plays there was some butterflies,” said Muskett. “But after that first touchdown I just felt confident on offense and in our team.”

With All-Big South wide receiver Lonnie Moore IV a late scratch Saturday, Greene Jr. shouldered the load catching five passes for 166 yards and a score.

“Terrance is an explosive player for us,” said Callahan. “Unfortunately, Lonnie was not able to go so we knew Terrance would pick up the load and he doesn’t disappoint. He’s picked up right where he’s left off.”

The young quarterback didn’t find out Moore IV was out until Friday night.

“Obviously, I was a little upset,” Muskett said of learning Moore IV was out. “But we have the best receivers room in the country. It you look at the depth and the skill of each player I don’t think you can find a better room.”

Muskett, who had offers from FBS Coastal Carolina and eight FCS schools after throwing for over 7,000 yards and 69 touchdowns at West Springfield High School, completed 18-of-26 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns without an interception for a 190.6 quarterback rating.

“It’s a different level no doubt,” said Muskett on his transition from high school to college. “This is one of the best programs in the country and I just feel through the preparation and the practices day in and day out It’s like a game every day. So, really the way I viewed it was that every day in practice I’m playing a game. The speeds still a little faster but I felt completely comfortable out there just because of going up against this defense in practice every day. It’s a challenge every day.”

The 6-foot-2, 195 pound Muskett displayed calm in the pocket and emitted an aura of confidence rarely seen in a true freshman, especially playing in his first game. Muskett’s second scoring toss of the day was a 20-yard strike to junior Assanti Kearney that extended the Hawks lead to 35-10, but if things broke right he could’ve easily had four touchdown passes.

Late in the fourth quarter, Greene Jr. was run out of bounds at the 1-yard line after a sparkling 63-yard catch-and-run on a pass in the flats. Then on Monmouth’s following possession, Muskett dropped a perfect pass into the hands of a receiver streaking down the left sideline with nothing but grass between him and the goal line, but ball was dropped.

“I think you saw the arm talent that Tony has on some of the throws he was able to make today,” added Callahan. “I’m very, very happy with what he’s done and he’s just going to continue to grow and get better.”

Saturday also marked the return of redshirt sophomore Juan Farri, who ran for over 1,000 yards in 2018 and was a first team All-Big South selection but sat out the 2019 season. Farri staked the Hawks to a 21-3 lead with a first quarter 6-yard touchdown run and a second quarter 26-yard burst up the middle breaking numerous tackles for the score.

“We felt if we could effectively run the ball it would take some of the pressure off the quarterback position where we had a first-time starter,” said Callahan. “Juwan was well rested having not played since 2018 so he had a lot of time to rest up and be ready to do what he did today. What you saw today was his ability to break tackles and to make people miss. He gets the tough yards and moves the pile forward to get the extra yards for a first down. And that’s what you’re going to continue to see from him.”

Farri’s first touchdown was set up by a 38-yard Muskett to Joey Aldarelli completion down to the 9-yard line. Two plays later he went in for the score. He added a third quarter 2-yard scoring run that gave the Hawks a 28-10 lead and finished with a workmanlike 119 yards on 33 attempts and three touchdowns.

Monmouth’s unheralded defense came up with three huge second half interceptions that swung the games momentum into their favor.

“I think what you saw today was a group that was very opportunistic,” said Callahan of his defense. “On three consecutive drives we turned them over and that led to scores that created the separation in this game and kind of reestablished Monmouth on top.”

The Hawks were seemingly in control of the game holding a 21-3 with 3:02 left in the second quarter with the Bucs deep in their own territory at their own 3-yard line.

However, Charleston Southern, led by All-Big South Preseason Honorable Mention quarterback Jack Chambers, put together a 97-yard scoring drive that not only cut the Hawks lead to 21-10 but suddenly changed the complexion of the game.

“I thought we were in control until maybe the last minute of the first half when they went on that extended drive and went down and scored,” Callahan said. “A drive like that can be demoralizing so at halftime we talked about how important it would be to come out in the second half and reestablish ourselves. I had to remind them that we were still in control of the game and we just had to go out and reassert ourselves; and I think we did just that.”

Monmouth forced a Charleston Southern punt on their first possession of the second half but following a Hawks punt on the ensuing possession the Bucs were on the move again driving to the Monmouth 34-yard line where they were facing a fourth-and-7.

Chambers, looking for the score, went deep but junior cornerback Eddie Morales III had the receiver blanketed and came up with the interception.

Morales – a former All-Shore performer from Howell – had a standout game in his first start as a fulltime cornerback. He led the team with eight tackles and had two pass breakups to go with his pick.

“I think for our first game we jelled very well,” said Morales. “We have a lot of returners back and I think we had a good defense last season. Along with that we had some transfers come in and help this defense right away, and I think we played very well as a unit today. I think our D-line did a great job upfront today.”

Following another Monmouth punt, the Bucs took over at their own 13-yard line. On first down the Hawks had an apparent breakdown in the secondary in what looked like a busted coverage and Chambers connected with a wide open Cayden Jordan for a 59-yard completion down to the Monmouth 28-yard line.

Charleston Southern was now threatening to make it a game, but the Hawks defense again came up big when it needed to.

On second-and-10 from the 28, Chambers pass was tipped and deflected by Monmouth’s All-Big South linebacker Da’Quan Grimes and into the hands of senior All-Big South safety Anthony Budd who returned it to the Charleston Southern 48-yard line.

True freshman wideout Dymere Miller then took a reverse 15 yards for a first down and Muskett hit Greene jr. for 25 yards down to the 5-yard line. Two plays later Farri ran it in for a 28-10 lead.

The Hawks defense, however, wasn’t through yet.

Charleston Southern took over at their own 25 following a fair catch. On first down Budd dropped running back Terrance Wilson for a 6-yard loss and two plays later, All-Big South cornerback Justin Terry picked off Chambers on a heads up play off a deflection turning the ball back over to the Hawks.

“Those three series together swung the game in our favor and put us in complete control,” added Callahan.

On the very next play, on first-and 10 at the Bucs 20, Muskett put the ball on the money and Kearney hauled it in for a commanding 35-10 lead.

The Bucs added a late score to pull within 35-17 but the defense shut them down on their final two possessions to seal the win.

Monmouth added a number of impact transfers on defense this season and they already paid dividends with some outstanding performances in the win.

Hahn, a former Red Bank Catholic star quarterback, had that big fourth-down stop and finished with seven tackles and a QBH. Defensive end Lorenzo Hernandez – a former second team All-State selection from Cherry Hill via ASA College – made his presence felt all day and contributed two sacks, five tackles and a pass breakup while Howard University transfer Zamon Robinson added a sack, three tackles and a QBH.

Callahan was impressed with his transfers play. “When you get guys that are experienced players that have been in games before that just adds to our depth and give us more weapons and guys that we can utilize.”

In all, the Hawks defense recorded five sacks. Junior defensive tackle Kurt Aumer added a big fourth quarter sack as did true freshman defensive lineman Justin O’Bannon and sophomore linebacker Isaiah Bishop who shared a sack.

Monmouth’s win should catapult them back into the FCS Top 25 this week after dropping out due to inactivity. Most preseason polls had the Hawks ranked 22nd in the country before having their first two games postponed due to Covid-19 concerns with their opponents.

The Hawks will travel to Gardner-Webb, hopefully, next Saturday, April 3. Gardner Webb had their Saturday game with Kennesaw State postponed due to Covid-19 concerns.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am for the team and how pleased I am with the effort,” said Callahan. “To not have a game in as long as its been and to come back here to Kessler Field and extend our home winning streak really made these guys happy. The were really amped up to play with a high level of energy and there was a high level of focus. They wanted to make every opportunity they get this year count and I think they did that today.”